06/23/2015 - Topic Transportation WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOPIC TRANSPORTATION
CITY OF CLEARWATER
June 23, 2015
Present: Councilmember Bill Jonson, Councilmember Doreen Hock-DiPolito
Also present: Paul Bertels—Traffic Operations Manager, Nicole Sprague— Official Records and
Legislative Services Coordinator
The Work Session was called to order at 10:36 a.m. at City Hall.
Councilmember Jonson complimented Councilmember Hock-DiPolito for placing both TIGER
(Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants plus transit funds for St.
Petersburg and Tampa Airport on the TMA (Transportation Management Area) agenda.
It was stated the PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority) needs to meet with FDOT (Florida
Department of Transportation) re allocation of transit funds for bus replacement.
Traffic Operations Manager Paul Bertels said the TCC (Technical Coordinating Committee) had
recommended expanding the STP (Surface Transportation Program) to include transit based on
the statewide trend to combine multimodal transportation; the MPO (Metropolitan Planning
Organization) did not approve the expansion. Discussion ensued regarding the MPO meeting
when the issue was discussed. It was recommended that the PSTA reintroduce the topic for
further discussion to the TCC.
The PSTA budget through 2022 was distributed; the budget was based on increased millage
and advertising on buses and route reductions. Operating reserves will build for two years and
then PSTA will operate at a loss. In later years, some reserves will be used for bus purchases.
Discussion ensued regarding meetings between PSTA and HART (Hillsborough Area Regional
Transit). Quarterly meetings were scheduled to discuss joint press releases and consider
consolidating planning functions, excluding funding. The first legislative committee meeting was
scheduled. It was recommended that invitations to the legislative committee meeting be sent to
area state legislators in transportation and all area chambers of commerce government affair
liaisons. It was stated that by collaborating, the transit systems could combine routes and attract
millennials to increase ridership. It was suggested that technology, similar to FDOT's Sunpass,
would be available to collect and share fares. It was recommended that the two transit systems
also reach out to the private sector for support.
Discussion ensued regarding Echelon president Darryl LeClair's proposal for an aerial gondola
system connecting Clearwater Beach with downtown Clearwater and later Tampa Airport. The
gondolas travel at approximately 27 miles per hour and would take approximately 40 minutes to
get from Clearwater Beach to Tampa Airport. Comment was made that the LeClair was still
interested in the project even after the Clearwater Marine Aquarium announced it was no longer
coming to downtown Clearwater.
Mr. Bertels said FDOT was doing a corridor study on State Road 60 which started about a
month ago. A resurfacing, rehabilitation and repair project will begin next year which will update
the signalization and include new street lights, which will be maintained by Duke Energy.
Regarding traffic on the beach, he said he has been approached by hoteliers to take away the
City Council —Topic Transportation 2015-06-23 1
first sets of crosswalks on the roundabout as the hoteliers thought the pedestrians were
interfering with people driving to their establishments. City studies show that during spring
break, 8,000 people use the crosswalks.
Discussion ensued regarding Belcher Rd. traffic improvements. Mr. Bertels said he will find out
if the County Commission addressed it in their priorities. He said the county was going to do an
Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) from Druid Road south to Bay Drive on Belcher
Road. The ATMS is being used to help alleviate the need to build or widen roads. Comment
was made that Duke Energy and FDOT are the obstacles when it comes to the Belcher Road
and State Road 60 intersection because of the power lines.
Discussion ensued regarding pedestrian crossings on US Highway 19 at Harn Blvd and north of
State Road 580. Mr. Bertels said FDOT is trying to figure out how to address the pedestrian
access north of 580. FDOT has a design for a pedestrian overpass at Harn Blvd. and they are
seeking the funding for that project which is estimated at about$5 million. The City owns land
on either side of US Hwy 19 south of Harn Blvd. that can be used for the landings sights.
In response to questions, Mr. Bertels said he spoke to the project manager regarding the lack of
landscaping on US Highway 19 at Enterprise Road who said there was concern regarding the
maintenance of sod so the islands were filled in with concrete. The City was never approached
to maintain the landscape.
Comment was made to request another meeting in six months.
The work session adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
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